Consumer borrowing drops $14.8B in September

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions. Economists worry the declines in borrowing will drag on the fledgling recovery.

The Federal Reserve says borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September. That's the biggest decline since July and is larger than the $10 billion drop economists expected.

Americans are borrowing less as they try to repair cracked nest eggs and replenish rainy day funds in a dismal jobs market. Many are finding it hard to get credit as banks, hit by the worst financial crisis in decades, have tightened lending standards.

The eight consecutive declines in consumer credit is the longest stretch on records dating to 1943.